You would be amazed. I found a human base recently, where the person left the clothes and hair on, and I ended up getting in an argument with someone over how acceptable that sort of thing was. I gathered all the look-alikes and showed the person, they said "They're all different, because different characters", then I showed them a bunch of sonic recolors, and they said "They're still different characters, so that's acceptable". It took me recoloring her OC on the same base I was arguing about for her to realize that recolors aren't okay.
Okay. So, I do like usig bases for making my OC do certain poses that I can't draw. Also, I give full credit to makers of the base, and also use them when I'm bored and have nothing better to do
XBombToneX/ XENO I only use bases when I'm too lazy to draw, or want to put my character in a certain pose that I can't draw myself.And yes, I make bases.
I use bases....but I am just now starting to learn how to draw and am hoping to eventually move away from them. I also always give credit to the ones i use and I never use them to make ponies to sell or anything only to make ocs or for practicing or for free gifts to friends.
*Sings* You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupit and Donner and Blitzen... But do you recaaallllllll... The most broniest Reindeer...of allllllllllllll? Tyandaga the Brony Reviewer Reindeer, did a little review with Lightning Bliss! And if you ever saw him, you could tell he wasn't hard to miss! All of the other reindeer, used to not let him play! They never let poor Tyty..take a turn pulling Santa's Sleigh! Then one beautiful summer day... Blissy came to say *snort snort snort* Tyty with your cute little face! Let's do a review on a Pony Base! Then all the Bronies loved him! As they shouted out with glee! Tyandaga the Brony Reviewer Reindeer! He goes down in Brony History!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEE :D *runs for it*
Lightning Bliss Blissy, you're just asking for trouble. Not going to protect you this time around lol. You get tired of the tail and ears gag, so I recommend you don't pull any reindeer jokes on Tyan lol.
Lightning Bliss Personally, my drawings even suck when I use a generator. I mean, the 2 drawings in my DA gallery used lined art, and were fill in with DA muro. So, when it comes to bases... I say, use them if your like me, and failed 5th grade art.
i use bases, but usually when I'm too lazy to draw XD and also there's those art styles/scenes you want your OC in, and I use bases when I'm designing characters cuz if I draw with my own art it'll take forever cuz I draw tradionally so making the art digital takes lots of time
As someone who isn't an artist or even attempted to draw ponies (just used the OC creator thing ) I think bases are excellent to give out the general idea of a character for those that can't draw (everything I tried to draw ended up looking like a toddler did it) and the thing they are going to use the character doesn't necessarily needs to be drawn like a fanfic. I know that in the game industry some professionals or even amateurs are encouraged to use bases as more often than not they can solve problems in coding like something doesn't work as it was intended to and also when you don't have the option to have an artist or musician in your team those bases end up being way better than what you could do on your own.
To be honest, I can't draw to save my life. I use bases to help tell a story as well as paint an image of the characters both from the show as well as the ones I make up. Sometimes I alter or piece bases together while playing around with them. But like you stated in the video above, I wanted to keep it as close to the show's style as possible, along with just aiding to help tell a story. Also, just want to say that I admire your videos and enjoy your insight on the various topics you cover. Keep it up
I used to follow this account on Instagram that used bases without giving credit, But when they posted their first post, I thought they drew it. Then they began to post more and more of them, still Without credit. I unfollowed them
Alois Trancy My OC is a Pegasus. She is totally white and she has blue hair and the style of her main is like Rainbow Dash's. She loves soaring in the sky and playing in the snow with her friends. Also she loves drawing, loves hot cocoa and apple cider. Her cutie mark is a snowflake with a pencil on top of it and her name is SnowflakeDot.
+Benjamin the gun she uses is actually because she is the heavy character for tf2 analysis (tf2 played by the critics and analysts in the mlp fandom :P )
If someone doesn't enjoy making art, then there's no sense in trying to force them :). I hated making artwork all the way up until the end of high school x3
I wanted to draw my friends as Equestra girl characters. I dont have the skill or time to be going all out trying to learn how to do the style, was just something fun to do, so i used bases. Shared it to their facebook they liked it, then was never herd about again
I started drawing characters by hand, but when I moved to digital art, I used bases often. They were an amazing help while I was learning. I posted very few of those pieces though because I didn't keep track of who thet belonged to. Now I draw freehand/mouse and even post some of my own bases for those who are learning like I was.I do agree that they shouldn't be used all the time though.
I have mixed feeling towards bases. I think they often make very good references and are a good source of inspiration. I also think they're really useful if you want to see what a characters would look like in show style, or for those that aren't too interested in art but wanna make character. That's fine. The issue I have is actually those who use them as a crutch for their own artwork. I know it's tempting to use bases and have things looking the exact way you want them to but you don't learn to draw that way. If you're constantly having something do the work for you, you'll never learn to do it for yourself. Art isn't something you can learn from theory. You gotta actually do it.
you'll never get better if you keep using bases. Bases do 80% of the work for you so where's room to improve of you're not trying to draw yourself? who said you had to draw in computer? try practicing on paper first
Then don't draw on your computer, draw it on paper instead, you can look up bases online if you want a certien pose but don't directly follow it, thats what i am doing, but if you really want to draw on your computer, then i recommend a Program called Fire Alpaca, Its Safe and free.
I started with drawing at bases. Because I really don't like my bodies. So... I guess I drew with them for 1 to 1 1/2 years to learn how to draw hair and clothing and yeah.. coloring them. Now I haven't touched them for years because now I can draw bodies and all of this stuff by my own.
I used bases to try figure out what I wanted for my new oc for my pony videos. Now I have made my own design with my own art style so I'm happy and thanks for doing this.
Thank you for making a video talking about how bases can be beneficially while still pointing out that they're not something to rely on. Too many people are vitriolic in their hatred of bases.
I use my bases just to practice posing . Heck, I dont even print them. I just use the poses as a reference to where to put the arms, legs, head, or other stuff.
Well, maybe you should do what I did. I made my ponies on paper, and even did a copy of Winona. The first drawing I ever made of a pony was for my sister. (This is my oc backstory) Then, I kept on drawing. One day, I looked at one of my drawings, added hair that is rainbow's style, added a griffin like tail, gloves, and a perfect cutiemark, I made my oc, Aqua Fire. So, keep on drawing from bases, then try one free handed.
I will say bases helped me learn how to draw the ponies myself, I'd trace or download them and break them down into basic shapes that made sense to me And I absolutely love how easy it is to use them as a reference without tracing to this day, rather than using trying to deal with finding a pose that's not blocked by a mane or tail. I really apprecite the base makers and honestly agree with a lot of this video ❤
I know this video was made 2 years ago but these are my two favorite My Little Pony fan RU-vidrs! Edited: I'm talking about lightning Bliss & Tyandaga.
Hmm... I made my first version of a colt OC in pony maker, and in hindsight, I kind of regretted it. That is to say, I regret publishing it even after doing a vector trace of it because that didn't remove all the flaws. I found two things missing from this video that might be worth touching on even after all this time (and yes, I can see how old this vid is): what bases are being used for exactly and how proper construction even works in drawing. I know that when you say bases are being abused, you mean people are just publishing copy-paste work as if it's art pieces on DA, but a noobie to the fandom won't know that. Or a noobie to DeviantArt. They'll think you're referring to people just posting filler, not presenting it as if it is 'art.' On construction: bases are not tutorials. You can copy show style perfectly, but then you are limited by what the show does. My aforementioned colt character was fairly muscular, but not bulging like Bulk Biceps. There was no example. Ditto with a changeling colt character: there wasn't any good reference for a male changeling's mane that resembled Chrysalis's more, with volume and holes in it. No amount of bases would have helped. The reason I bring up construction specifically is that if you learn to do skeletons, use the Circle Tool in Inkscape to mark joints and get a feel for layer management, you can actually make a sort-of functional animation puppet for yourself. I even made and published such a thing to a forum on freeware in development to demonstrate it as proof of concept. Someone came into the forum and asked if anyone had the pony Flash puppets (the software wasn't Flash). When made aware of the one thing I'd published, they actually *complained* that all there was was Scootaloo. So, in conclusion, and with that in mind, I think bases are symptomatic of a problem, not a problem on their own. The problem is that people want to keep dividing the efforts of making art more and more in order to shrink the effort that they themselves put in. People wanting to get into animation don't want to learn how to make puppets or how to draw, despite the skillsets overlapping. People who want to put their own OC's out there don't want to learn vector tracing, they only care about colouring and styling. Daniel Radcliffe made a great point once that's relevant here: "I didn't want to be famous; I wanted to be an actor." What you're rightly complaining about is people who don't want to be artists, just famous. With regards to posing, I have a more or less functional workflow now to pose the characters I've traced, and I'll be testing it out when I make the cover art for my next fanfic, so again, it's an acquired skill. Haven't settled on poses just yet, but it's an anime parody, drawing lots of inspiration from Naruto. There are, again, no bases to work from, so it'll require trial, error, and a bare minimum of knowing how rotations and perspective work... Probably going to fail horribly, but at least it'll be on my own account and not because of someone else who got it wrong. Speaking of which, important thing to note: the show gets things *wrong*. A lot. Basic rules of perspective, breaking the joints (look at Cheerilee's class when they're sitting down: those legs have snapped), that sort of thing.
You know what? At least you didn't get your most popular OC from inverting Fluttershy's colors in Photoshop. I've changed him a lot since then, but man.... that was a dark beginning.
MizukiUkitake Everyone starts from somewhere, and as Voltaire aptly put it: "Your first work will suck." On a more technical note, simply inverting the colours on an established character isn't that bad an idea, actually. By starting from a colour scheme that works, you avoid some flaws at the onset, and you end up with a similar mix of complementary or supplementary colours (whichever is the right term, I forget). So don't feel too bad about it; once you get to the stage that you're able to self-correct, you progress with every thing you make. Do you trace now, though, or do you construct?
Well I'm a beginner making draws and art and... I don't have any idea to do my own style so, yeah, the bases are really important to me, I know that I have to give the value to the artist that made the base... In many words, when I discover my own style, I'll stop to use bases (yeah in the middle of the year :/)
I just use bases because Ms Paint on my computer doesn't have any way to erase the first layer. I'm a growing digital artist so i agree with you when you say they should be used for newer artists or for fun.
I use bases for things like legs, and the head curve. But the ears, mane, tail, face, clothing, colors, and so on I make myself. but sometimes I just can't get the leg curves or back distance worse.
I think that I’m pretty good at drawing my own ponies without bases on paper, and I don’t use any reference. But when it comes to digital art, I am THE WORST. Literally THE WORST. So I have to use bases when I’m drawing on my computer or on my phone. But I’m starting to learn how to not use bases now on digital art :D
I use bases for reference quite a lot, what I do is I trace the base then go from there and draw the hair and stuff Is thay bad? (BTW I don't post them on the internet, I keep them to myself)
As an artist I can drawl pretty good on paper. I got my own deviant art account and I realized computer art (and digital art)is really hard. I use bases for most of my digital art but I always give credit to the base makers.I am glad that people are nice enough to lend a helping hand and provide great bases.
One time I drew a character from the shoe and posted it online, and somebody else decided to draw it exactly the same way I did and didn't say anything in reference to me. it made me mad enough to just delete my account after a while.
Tyandaga On the topic: I Adore Bases if they are well-made and well used, but I also like original styles dependent on how they suit my taste and how consistent they are, some styles I Adore as well (Frank Miller's classic work on Batman Miniseries(Especially Year One) comes to mind). EDIT: I think the best for OC's when it comes to FiM, is when people manages to do their own style, yet similar enough to the show style to not look off when compared. ************************************************************************************** Also, I really like how Lightning has renamed and re-gendered what I assume is her TF2-weapon. ^_^
Tyandaga Thanks for telling me, I was planning on making a shrugging but I wanted to know if I would be criticized throughout the fandom that I used a base.
I use bases a LOT. From humans, to ponies, to various other animals. I didn't start out using bases, but I can tell you that between drawing on paper for years, and using (and making!) bases, I've learned a lot about anatomy that I didn't when I was in art school. Making MLP bases especially taught me how pony anatomy works, and how the heads are shaped. I can now draw pony legs with no problem at all, on paper. However, the reason I still use bases is because it's incredibly difficult to get that posing or that style without a tablet. Not to mention, the bases make my characters look show-ready, and I can fit them in screenshots with canon characters easily. On my DA, I have a picture of an OC of mine standing beside Rarity, and he actually looks like he's part of the scene. Without the availability of a tablet, my lines often end up quite disastrous, and are very unappealing. That being said, if you have the ability to not use bases, then try to avoid using them. Even though I use bases on the computer, I still practice often drawing on paper, and sometimes transferring that sketch to the computer to redraw without a base. Contrary to what people are saying, a base does not enable you (or rather, SHOULD NOT enable you) to copy another character's design. I'm strongly against any pony bases that come with manes and tails (unless they're originally designed for that reason), and I'm even more against human bases that come with hair and clothes. The base should be for the pose ONLY, and you can't really copyright claim a pose. It's like saying "I did a handstand last week, but that person just did a handstand, so they're stealing from me". If you use a base of a crosseyed pegasus, you're not copying everyone else's designs who did a crosseyed pegasus, you're just making the same face. Now, if someone else made a crosseyed pegasus with a blue body, green mane, and a pink heart over the eye, and you make a crosseyed pony with a blue body, teal mane, and lavender heart over the same eye, then you're copying/stealing.
this is *my* opinion, but I really don't like lightning bliss' Oc. I mean.. why is she an alicorn? Though I really like the tail style she chose. But other than that I don't really like her oc, Vinal's glasses- rainbow dash's hair- and an alicorn? Really? But that's just my opinion so don't get all mad about it
Eh, I suppose it's because she feels it reflects her personality. That's just my guess, though. Why did I make an OC based on the Golden Stags that pull Artemis's chariot?
honestly for me, since i can draw my own characters fine i just like to use bases every once in a while to make my characters look like the show’s style. making them fit into the universe better.
At first I did not use bases but then I did and stoped, now I draw my own art (100%)because I watched speedpaints and got an idea. Now I'm really good.
i use bases because i cant draw the body i tried so hard but i couldnt but heres how i use them: 1.get the base i want 2.draw lines on the body 3.color them 4.remove the base 5.make my oc 6.done! other people use them this way like Reitanna Seishin she uses them this way i think when i grow a little ill try to draw a pony myself and if i didnt secucced ill train more but when i dont have to i wont use them
The bases to me are just fine to me. The only problem I will have with these are mostly on how some sell. Now I can see bases drawn as commisions only around maybe 5 to 10 bucks at best. But then you see artist who use it all the time and trace it and you see plagiarizing and stealing. Anybody remember the draw ponies incident? A lot of flak he has gotten because he was stealing and making a profit off of it, damaging artist run of their own work. Hell I have talk to one of these people about the indecent. Ya I don't mind them but if I see them use like this, that is where shits gonna hit the fan.
+TheRandomMew/Dark Moon Mlp Go onto deviant art, you'll see a download button. If you click on that and then download it the base should be usable for ms paint.
i actually use mlp bases just as a quick way to make an oc ive wanted to make, and then later on down the line i'll probably draw the character myself if im feeling up to it. ; v ;
I use bases but I always draw them from scratch. I have never drawn anything using a base ON an electronic device (besides tracing my own work once). I don't even own a tablet, photoshop, or am decent with paint. It's always done the old fashion way: with a sketchbook and pencils. I can tell you first hand that every single art piece I have ever made has taken well over an hour to do and I usually do it twice because the first one is really messy. I try doing my own work on occasion but I still suck at it. Judge me however you want but sooner or later I'll find what works best for me.
I'm an artist who has been drawing since I was 4 years old and let me tell you: when I started,I didn't use any bases, sure I did trace but I stopped after a day.Why you may ask ? Because it's boring! it takes the fun out of drawing the entire piece. Not to mention it was extremely hard to find bases or images to trace when you don't know where to look. Just please don't use them. There are a limited amount of bases and certain poses so don't waste your time looking for base and instead use your time to practice your skills.
you guys are talking like anyone can pick up a pencil and just draw drawing is a hard long process to learn and do and not everyone is able to do it at all not just some im sure theres someone out there besides me thats spent literal hours or even days trying to draw a single pic only to throw it away in frustation cause it turned out like you drew it drunk with your opposing hand in a dark room at night after being up a week so where its true you shouldnt rely on short cuts sometimes thats all a person can actually do
+OriginalSparkstar Well anyone can draw, and that's the truth. Whether someone decides that their art is good or not is another thing ;p. But anyone can pick up a pencil and make art ^.^
I find it crazy that back then we used to Absolutely Despise bases or see them as laziness/lack of talent to over all accepting and encouraging users to use them because they are a wonderful starting point for so many artists, are just used for the pure fun of it while creating Amazing art from them. Looking back to remember how toxic people used to be about bases, it was no wonder that a lot of people began stealing art in hopes to avoid the backlash of using a base or be told they have no real talent and such. Heck it became a Status Symbol to say "Well I never used one before so" when we all have used references before so we technically did, just not directly. It really shouldn't matter if you use bases or not as it isn't that serious of a matter, just have fun but as said in the video to Always credit the base creator or learn just make your own.
I don't like the bases because it's like someone is taking the character style from My Little Pony and not giving credit of who's it actually is so I won't use this I would do it in my own way and not say that I own the Pony drawing style I would just draw my own pony I know I said that LOL but it's still not right to just snap shot a scene from My Little Pony and then erase the tale the Cutie Mark the main the eyes and just everything that belongs to that I don't know but it's still not right so once you use it just give credit then everything will be okay but if you do not then you will have to pay money like a song like you borrowed a song without permission but you have to get credit so yeah
I only use bases when I'm not in the mood for drawing multiple characters of the same species, or just not in the mood to draw a whole body for a character design, but I still draw and stuff.
